Best Coast's Wild, Innocent Beach Shuffle

There’s nothing like the innocent sounds of surf rock and girl groups to mask the desperate pain within. Best Coast’s cathartic California beach pop counters the tortured relationships of its airy, yet alluring siren, Bethany Cosentino.

And like some of the sandy summer singles of the past, she and multi-instrumentalist partner Bobb Bruno keep things simple, with only one song clocking in at over three minutes. Earworm “Boyfriend” typifies the direct and revealing nature of Cosentino’s confessionals, though, it’s not all tortured diary entries; her cover cat, Snacks, inspires one of the tracks on Crazy for You.

Like another Golden State frontwoman, Jenny Lewis, Consentino acted as a child, appearing in local and national commercials. And while lyrically dramatic, the happy, sun-kissed, Everly Brothers-inspired sound of Best Coast might make you play beach blanket bingo with Annette and Frankie, or in the case of the video for "When I'm With You," a certain burger-hawking clown.

Altered Freebies: Blonde Redhead; Jukebox The Ghost; Best Coast

What's better than music? Free music. Producer Nick Jackson has scoured the Interwebs to bring you the best free downloads featured on this week's Altered Fridays, 4-7 p.m.

Blonde Redhead, "Here Sometimes"

Blonde Redhead returns with a new song off their upcoming album Penny Sparkle, set for release in September. By the sound of it, this album will be a nice lead-in to fall.


Jukebox The Ghost, "Empire"

WTMD favorites Jukebox The Ghost have finished their sophomore LP, Everything Under The Sun and are treating us to the first single off it. It's fun, quirky, and it's sure to please.

You may remember them performing this song when they were on Morning Sessions last year...

Best Coast, "Boyfriend"

Best Coast creates a fun little jingle for those summer crushes that you'll find during these hot days down at the beach. More will be available on their Crazy For You release, due out July 27th.